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Node Requirements

What a node needs before it runs. Required inputs, a named connection when the catalog says so, and a model on AI nodes.

Node requirements

Each catalog node declares inputs, outputs, and whether it needs a credential. The inspector is the source of truth for field names. This page is the shared pattern, not a second catalog.

Start nodes

A flow needs one start node:

NodeSlugRole
StartstartOn-demand, API, webhook
Start ScheduledstartScheduledRecurring, weekly, or runAt
Start SubflowstartSubflowInvoked by a parent Subflow node

There is no Email, API, Webhook, or External Event start node. See Manual.

Start nodes do not accept upstream data handles. Downstream nodes read trigger payload from the start node (body, headers, query, method on webhook/API) or from Flow inputs.

Required inputs

A required input must be one of:

  • A static value in the inspector
  • A mapped expression / handle from an upstream output
  • Left empty, then supplied at run time as {nodeId}_{inputName}

If it is still empty at enqueue, validateFlow fails for connected nodes.

Generate Text requires Prompt (prompt, data type prompt) and a selected model. Temperature is an advanced slider from 0.0 to 1.0, not 0-2.

Credentials

If the node uses an integration, pick a named organization connection. See Credential management.

HITL email is split: platform Resend vs named Resend key vs named SMTP. See HITL Approvals.

Unconnected nodes

Nodes not reachable from the start node are not validated and do not run. They can sit on the canvas while you build.

Outputs

Outputs are declared on the catalog row. You do not have to wire every output. Cost and token fields on AI nodes are run outputs when the platform records them. They are not a reason to invent a cost handle in docs if the inspector does not show it.

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